Method and apparatus for repairing shoes



1939- E. 1. LA CHAPELLE I 2,184,453

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING SHOES Filed Feb. 21. 1958 Z6 A Z2 //v VEN TD/FL zwa/z Patented Dec. 26 1939 UNITED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPAIRING SHOES Euclid I. La Ghapelle, Brockton, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application February 21, 1938, Serial No. 191,631

6 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for use in shoemaking and particularly for use in repairing welt shoes.

In preparing a welt shoe, the outsole is removed, or at least that portion of the outsole from the forward part of the shank forwardly. The forepart filler is then easily removed disclosing the insole which, by the wear of the shoe, has usually been distorted from its original fiat condition and, if a new filling is put in and the sole applied, the shoe will not have its original shape and may not fit the wearers foot.

Objects of this invention are to provide a method and apparatus-for use in repairing shoes by which the insole of the shoe may be restored approximately to its original condition.

With these objects in view, the method consists' in removing the welt outsole, stretching the insole by stress applied longitudinally thereto between the extreme toe end of the insole and the heel end of the shoe, and then laying a new outsole while the insole is under longitudinal tension. Usually, of course, a filling will be applied to the insole before the outsole is laid.

The apparatus for use in the practice of the method comprises a last, preferably of iron, having a plurality of prongs projecting from the toe end of the bottom face thereof, which prongs are forced into or through the extreme toe end of the insole, a horn member arranged to engage the interior of the rear end of the shoe, and means for urging the horn member rearwardly of the shoe to stretch the insole. Preferably a spring is employed to urge the horn member rearwardly and an adjustable stop is provided to limit the action of the spring. A treadle may be provided for moving the horn toward the last to facilitate the placing of the shoe upon the last.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is asectional view of the apparatus, the last being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the horn member detached from the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line IVIV of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom of the shoe after the forepart of the outsole has been removed;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the last in side elevation and the shoe and horn member in longitudinal section, the new sole having been applied to the shoe;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the last; and

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the front end of the last in longitudinal section.

The illustrated mechanism for stretching a shoe after the outsole is removed and before applying a new sole'comprises a tubular standard ID into the upper end of which is threaded a tubular extension I2 which is held against rotation by a clamp bolt M. A plug I6 is fixed in the upper end of the tubular member l2 and is provided with a central hole l8 to receive a pin 28 projecting downwardly from an iron last 22.

Preferably the pin 20 is provided with a stud 24 engaging a vertical slot in the plug I6 to prevent its rotation. Thebottom of the iron last 22 is provided at its toe end with pointed upwardly projecting prongs or spikes 26 for the purpose of engaging the inner surface of an insole at its toe end and obtaining a hold thereon so that by rearward movement of the shoe relatively to the last the insole may be'stretched and wrinkles and irregularities removed therefrom.

In Fig; 1 ashoe 21 from which the forepart of the outsole has been removed is represented in dotted lines, the toe end of the insole being engaged by the prongs or spikes 26. At the rear end of the last 22 is arranged a member 28 the upper end of which is shaped like a shoe horn and the lower end of which is pivoted by a pin arms 38 at their forward ends is a pin 48 to' which a treadle rod 42is connected. The treadle rod. has a turn buckle 44 for adjusting its length and its lower end is connected to a treadle 46 pivoted at 48 to the standard l0.

Tourge the member 28 rearwardly to stretch the shoe, a strong grasshopper spring is provided the mid portion of which is coiled about the pin 30, one arm 50 of which rests against the member 28 while the other arm 52 has a forwardly bent end engaging a hole in the member l2. To limit, rearward swinging of the member 28 by the spring 50, 52, an adjustable stop screw 54 is provided, the screw being threaded through a lug 56 carried by rearward extensions of the ears 34. Depression of the treadle 46 acts through the treadle rod 42 to pull downwardlyon the arms 38, thus swinging the member 28 toward the last against the pressure of the spring 50, 52, and thestop screw 54 serves to limit adjustably the rearward swinging moveto the spring.

In use, the forepart of the sole of a shoe to be repaired is removed or, if desired, the entire sole and heel may be taken off. The treadle 46 is depressed to move the stretching member 28 toward the last 22, the shoe is placed over the last and the toe end of the insole is impaled on the prongs or spikes 26. Then the treadle is released to allow the spring 50, 52 toact to force the stretching member 28 rearwardly and apply stretching force to the shoe. Since the extreme toe end of the insole is held firmly by the prongs or spikes 26, the force of' the spring is exerted mainly upon the insole or, if only the forepart of the outsole is removed, upon the forepart of the insole. This action tends to hold the insole in flat condition and supports the shoe in a convenient position so that the old filler may be removed. The insole is dampened to assist in restoring it to its initial condition, a fresh filler 58 (Fig. 5) inserted, and a new outsole 60 (Fig. 6) fitted to the shoe. The new sole 6|! is preferably attached to the filler 58 and welt E52 by usual sole laying cement while the insole is being stretched, the shoe being then released by depressing the treadle 46 and removed for the operation of sewing the welt 62 to the new sole 60.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. That improvement in methods of repairing shoes which consists in removing the old outsole, stretching the insole by stress applied longitudinally of the shoe between the extreme toe end of the insole and the heel end of the shoe, and laying a new sole while the insole is under longitudinal tension.

2. That improvement in methods of repairing shoes which consists in removing at least the forepart of the worn sole, stretching the insole longitudinally of the shoe to remove wrinkles and restore it to its original length by stress applied between the extreme toe end of the insole and the heel end of the shoe, and laying a new sole upon the shoe while the insole is in stretched condition.

3. Apparatus for use in shoe repairing comprising a last having a pointed prong or prongs projecting from the extreme toe end of the bottom face thereof to be engaged with the toe end of the insole, a horn member arranged to engage the interior of the rear end of the shoe, and means for urging the horn member rearwardly of the shoe to stretch the insole.

4. Apparatus for use in shoe repairing comprising a last having a plurality of pointed prongs projecting from the extreme toe end of its bottom face in position to engage the toe end of an insole, a horn member arranged to engage the interior of the rear end of the shoe, and a spring acting to urge the horn member rearwardly of the shoe to stretch the insole.

5. Apparatus for use in shoe repairing comprising a last having a plurality of pointed prongs projecting from the extreme toe end of its bottom face in position to engage the toe end of an insole, a horn member arranged to engage the interior of the rear end of the shoe, a spring acting to urge the horn member rearwardly of the shoe to stretch the insole, and treadle means acting in opposition to the spring for moving the horn member toward the toe of the last to permit a shoe to be placed thereon.

6. Apparatus for use in shoe repairing comprising a last having a plurality of pointed prongs projecting from the extreme toe end of the bottom face thereof in position to engage the toe end of the insole of a shoe placed on the last, a horn member arranged to engage the interior of the rear end of the shoe, means for urging the horn member rearwardly of the shoe to stretch the insole thereof, and an adjustable stop for limiting the movement imparted to the horn by the spring.

EUCLID I. LA CHAPELLE. 

